Red-hot Rangdajied rise to I-League

BANGALORE, APRIL 27: Rangdajied United FC topped the 2^nd Division I-league by defeating Mohammedan Sporting Club of Kolkata in their last encounter at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Saturday and, more importantly, joined the black-and-white outfit in qualifying for the next edition of the prestigious I-League.

For the thousands of football-mad people of Meghalaya,  Rangdajied’s qualification would mean they could be faced with the happy prospect of witnessing two teams from the state capital fight it out in next season’s I-League provided Shillong Lajong FC, which is competing in the current edition of the premier tournament, manage to stave of relegation.

That, though, is tomorrow’s story. Today, Rangdajied did the entire state proud by producing a sterling performance in the must-win match against the Mohammedans with a 3-1 easy victory. The Kolkata team, who had already qualified for the I-League by virtue of their table-topping 17 points before today’s match, finished second in the tournament as Rangdajied turned the tables on them, finishing with 19 points from ten matches.

The Shillong team, which was formerly known as Ar-Hima FC, went in to the lead as early as the fifth minute of the game when Sporting’s Charles Dzisah directed the ball into his own net while trying to clear Shin Hojun’s shot.

Rangdajied, who were making their second appearance in the final round of the 2nd Division I-League, consolidates their position during the added minute of the first half when skipper Restom Khriam carried the ball from the central line and scored a brilliant goal from about 24 yards.

After the breather, Rangdajied went into the defensive to protect their two goals lead as a result of which all the action restricted to the midfield. However, in the 84th minute of the game Sporting \substitute Jerry

Zirsingha’s shot from about 30 yards beat Rangdajied custodian Shambhu Mistry and entered the goal, making it 2-1.

Two minutes later, Rangdajied’s Korean recruit Shin Hojun secured the match and the tournament for the team with a goal. The goal brought joy to the motley group of Rangdajied supporters comprising mostly students who had come to the stadium in the afternoon heat, and thousands of footballers back home in Meghalaya. (By Suraj Joshi)